Leilani.
By the ti I finally stepped out of the bathroom several minutes later, I was all red and sore. My body still bled from open cuts lining my arms and legs and I groaned in pain with each step I took.
So in other words, I didn’t feel better. Instead, I felt worse and soone had to pay for it.
Darius was also long gone by this ti, but I still couldn’t help feeling like I was being watched when I took off the towel wrapped around my body and changed into a pair of grey shorts and a blue tank top.
I didn’t even bother to comb my wet hair before wrapping it into a ssy bun, and when I was done, I stepped out of the house with my car keys, that is after shooting Gavin a quick text.
A few minutes later, I parked in front of my old house— now Gavin’s ho, and stepped out of my car, my heart racing with anticipation as I walked through the open gates. I barely responded to the guards that greeted as I walked past, and—
"Leilani, what are you doing here?!" Gavin’s warm voice pulled out of my reverie. I barely even had the chance to register his words when I felt his warm arms circle around my body, pulling into an embrace; But because I was still very traumatized by what happened only a few hours ago, I struggled against him and pushed him so hard that he stumbled backwards.
Her eyes widened as a shocked gasp slipped out of his mouth. He whispered; "Lani?"
It took a mont to realise what I had just done, but by this ti, it was already a little too late.
My throat closed up and tears burned at the corners of my eyes. Feeling embarrassed and mortified at the sa ti, I shook my head at him, my voice quiet as I whispered; "I didn’t an to... I really didn’t."
"Leilani?"
"Gavin, I would never hurt you. You know that, don’t you?" I cried, my voice breaking at each word I uttered.
"Goddess, what happened to you?" He asked, and at the sound of his voice... and the worry that dripped off each word like honey, I literally broke.
I swear, I wanted to be strong but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even help myself when I fell to the floor, gripping at the collar of my shirt and gasping for air as more tears stread down my face.
I vaguely heard my na being called before a familiar sweet scent wafted into my nostrils, and next thing I knew, I was being pulled up by soone I didn’t get the urge to push off. Soft warm arms wrapped around my neck and a familiar voice called out to , whispering into my ear;
"Baby, baby I am here... I am so so sorry! Please breathe! Breathe!"
But I couldn’t breathe. I wasn’t sure I knew how to anymore.
"My love, it is . It is , Maya, the absolute love of your life. So please, listen to and breathe... do it one at a ti. Don’t be greedy."
Following her command, I began to breathe slowly... very slowly until I felt the air return to my lungs, until I could feel warmth return to my body and until I no longer felt like I was on the very edge of death.
I do not recollect when she led into the house but next thing I knew, she was helping into a chair and shoving a bottle of chilled water into my hands, her touch overly soft as she brushed off my hair from the spot where it had stuck to my face. She asked softly;
"What happened to you?"
And it wasn’t until she asked that question that I also began to wonder too. I frowned, wondering what had made spiral so badly.
Was it Darius or the things he’d said to ?
Was it because I am just getting to know that my father died three years ago and not earlier?
Was it because my entire life felt like a lie?
Was it because I now knew that the Alphas... my mates... may have sothing to do with my father’s death?
"Leilani?" Gavin’s voice called out to and I found myself reacting in shock.
My eyes widened for a very split second before I rembered where I was, who I was with...
I was safe here.
"Darius ca to my house earlier today..." I drawled, shuddering when just the re ntion of his na had my body crawling with disgust. "He said so things to .
"Oh baby!" Maya cried, coming to hug again. "You shouldn’t have allowed his words to get to you so much. You know what he is... who he is—"
"What did he say to you?" Gavin cut in, interrupting her. He sounded so grave that for a minute, he wasn’t who I saw standing in front of , it was Malakai Blackthorne. He hissed; "What did the bastard say to you?"
"He told that the triplets executed a man nad Ragnar about three years ago." I rasped, my throat sore and raw from all my crying.
Gavin frowned, crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. "Hmm, I don’t know, but the na sounds a little familiar."
"Father has always been their Beta. And you were more or less like an assistant beta until... you know, you stopped doing all of the pack’s duties altogether, so you should know."
"I know," he said, clucking his tongue. "I think I’ve heard of that na, I just cannot rember where I heard it from..."
I turned away when he said that, hating how dejected it made feel. I almost wanted to give up and just let it be until another thought struck . I turned back to look at him and asked;
"What about the nas Valemont or Morningstar or sothing?"
And as soon as I asked that, I saw the recognition flicker across his gaze. A bright light glead in his eyes and he smiled.
"Oh yes, I rember now! It was a man with the title: Ragnar Valemont, first son of Morningstar. Or wait, was it the other way around?" He asked, sounding excited.
But who the fuck cares about the arrangent of the na? Who cares if Morningstar should co first before Valemont or the other way round?
Definitely not .
I nearly hopped out of my seat when I nodded at him, pumping my fist in the air as I screeched; "Yes! That is the man I am talking about!"
He snorted. "Oh, that criminal?"
The way he said those words so half-heartedly made want to shrink into myself. It broke sothing in my heart, sothing that could never be repaired. And as if to further twist the knife into my chest, he drawled;
"I do not know what he stole from the Alpha but he put his sons to the task of seeing justice to him. Kael, Zevran and Caelum at the ti were desperate for their father’s approval so they killed him. They beheaded him and left his carcass out in the open until stray dogs fed off him."
And those words... sothing about those words, shattered whatever was left of my heart.
I gripped at the front of my shirt as tears filled my eyes. And as if suddenly noticing my foul mood, Gavin asked softly;
"Why are you asking about so unknown criminal? Who is he to you and what business do you have with him?"
I couldn’t find my voice. I couldn’t even move or breathe.
When I finally managed to pull what bits of myself that I could pull together, I closed my eyes and let out a ragged sigh.
"He is my father. My biological father."
The room went silent."
User Comments
0 comments from readers